Edwin Masters has spent his entire life lusting after one car -- a 1962 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600. When he finally buys one, it changes the entire shape and meaning of his world. The car comes with a guest, and the restless spirit is awakened by Edwin.<br><br>Cooper James, the young man who died behind the wheel forty-seven years earlier, haunts the Spider and he wants a life. He wants Edwin. So he reaches out, sucking Edwin into a deepening abyss by exploiting demons from a past Edwin can't break from.<br><br>Edwin resists, struggling against the phantom in favor of an attractive, exciting young man who wants to be with him, Carson Heston. Carson holds the key to Edwin's salvation, but every time he gets close, Cooper terrorizes him. Edwin knows he'll be lost forever if he submits to Cooper's dark promise of release and relief, but that might be the only way to save Carson's life.

On a Bruised Road

Edwin empathized with what Warren was going through, but his situation had been quite a bit better. He hadn’t crawled off to a free rehabilitation center in the inner city, aching for a fix, crying from the pain, begging for a break and a bed. He had been out of pharmacy school for two years at that point, and he had a good job at a state hospital. He could afford to check into a nice clinic. Not as nice as the ones the celebrities used, but one that kept him like a prisoner for twenty-one days. Even though he had wanted to be there, had checked himself in, he’d fought it. Every single day. Fought it like Warren was fighting it now.


“You know you can do this,” Edwin said softly. He took Warren’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He only wanted Warren to know he was there.


“I can’t…I can’t keep…Doc, I can’t…”


“You can do it, Warren. After this, you can stay clean. You get a job. You help Angela get clean. You can do it.”


Chapter 38